A Servants Love

N-: Alucard looked to Integra when she first started to fight but stopped. Then listening as she spoke of how she wished she could see the stars he sighed."Let's see what I can do." he slid his arm out from around her much to his dismay and stood up. Removing his coat and wrapping it around her as it would become cold soon he stepped a foot or so away and closed his eyes. Lifting his hands as his runes began to glow. The Shadows beginning to swirl and writhe before leaping into the sky in the form of large bats only they could see.Flapping their wings hard and as quickly as possible a wind picked up as there were so many in the sky that the smog was forced away...at least for a little while.Lowering his hands he held just above his heart as it was apparent he was more tired then he had thought.Moving to sit down beside her he smiled tiredly.



O-: Integra's eyes widened for a second as she took in the millions of stars above them, then slowly turned to thank Alucard...only to notice that he did not seem as 'spirited' as usual. "You're still not well from earlier, are you?", she questioned, her brows meeting. "I'm going to go call Walter to have the car sent", she relayed to the vampire, her voice showing that the subject was not up for debate. Face softening a bit as she suddenly felt bad for switching back to her usual demeanor with the dead count despite his efforts to continuously ensure her happiness that night, Integra whispered a soft 'thank you' as she got up to find a phone nearby.



N-: Alucard remained silent as he knew what that tone meant when she used it towards him. When he heard the soft thank you she uttered to him, a gentle smile touched his face as he leaned back against the back of the bench. Making sure to keep an eye on her at this time of night with his mind just in case.-The one time that I use my powers for something aside from a mission or for bloodshed and I am weakened.. I have to get better or next time it could cost her life.- He looked to her as he waited. -And that's a price I refuse to pay.-



O-: Integra stepped away to a nearby phone and dialed the necessary digits to get the manor. Turning her back towards the booth she waited for Walter to greet her. "It's Integra.", she remarked, and Walter immediately asked where he should send the car, his tone conveying a tone that seemed to resemble a tinge of anger that caused the heiress to smirk briefly. "To the north port of the water front. Alucard is not feeling well." Hearing a muffled sigh of relief on the other line, Integra gave a quick goodbye and hung the phone up. Walking back she slipped her hands into her pockets and sat back down next to Alucard. "The car should be here soon. Is there anything you have on you to keep yourself well until they arrive?"



N-: Alucard sighed softly and reached into his coat pocket. "This. But at this temperature it won't do much." he held up the packet of blood from earlier. Looking to her for a moment before looking away again ashamedly. "How pathetic. I attempt to do one small act of kindness with my powers and I am so weak that I can't even transport us back to the manor." he was pissed off at himself, but his pride was more hurt then anything else as because of his weakness, her good time was ruined. He snapped the spout off of the bag and began to drink, still not looking at her as numerous curses at himself coursed through his mind.



O-: Integra repressed her urge to scream at him. Taking a deep breath she place her hand on her shoulder. "You've done enough, Alucard.", she said in a softer tone. "I had a wonderful time." Then, despite the warning sirens in her head, she leaned close and kissed him softly on the cheek. Letting go of his arm, she turned away and moved back to her feet, hopefully making sure she was further away before any twitches of 'awkwardness' began. Without looking at him, she continued. "I must have had a really wonderful time if I can continue to sprout compliments to you like this. Don't expect this to be a new behavior to get used to."



N-: Alucard almost spit his blood out in surprise. His eyes wide with shock as he looked to her. A wide smile touched with that same tiredness played across his lips as he chuckled. "I prefer you as I have known you since you awakened me.It is what has made me fall in love with you." he continued to drink his blood before he gave it a firm toss into a nearby garbage barrel. "As a side note,I believe you phrased it well earlier."As far as 'expressing' yourself other than your usual--don't." unless you truly wish to anyways."he leaned back more against the bench, his eyes almost falling shut but his restraint kept them from doing so.



O-: Integra looked back at Alucard. "The only thing that will change about me is what I accepted from your proposal, and anything in the future that might come from it. Aside from that...", she started to walk away towards the road behind them as two lights approached. "I am Integra Wingates Hellsing, your master." The white car stopped slowly before the blond woman at the curb. She approached it and opened the door, but turned around before sliding inside. "Are you well enough to walk to the car?", she asked, holding the door.



N-: Alucard pushed himself up from the bench and made his way towards the car. Going to the other side to get in, he flopped down onto the seat and shut the door.Closing his eyes, he reached into his pocket and removed his glasses. Putting them back on as he reclined the best he could,he lifted his hand to hide a yawn behind the back of it. "I see Police girl is once again arguing with that mercenary." he smirked and shook his head as he closed the mental connection to his fledgling and leaned against the door a bit.Trying not to fall asleep.



O-: Integra watched as Alucard sit himself inside the car and followed soon after, sliding gracefully into the seat and shutting the door behind her before making brief eye contact with the driver to continue. Lifting her chin as she sat up straight in the seat, she nodded once to Alucard's report. "What will you need once we return to the manor? I'll tell Walter to send it to you." Eyes focused on the road ahead, she slowly relaxed herself against the back seat and pulled her tin out to light a cigar, only to find that she was not truly in the mood for one, and inwardly cursed her habit.



N-: Alucard 's eyes closed again as he answered her question. "It will take quite a bit of blood for me to regain any real energy. Don't bother Walter about it, I will get what I need when we return." -I'd be surprised if even the Angel of Death could carry all of it to me.- he chuckled to himself mentally as he tilted his head back. "Will you be retiring for the evening?" he opened his eye halfway to look at her from behind the tinted lenses that adorned his face.



O-: Integra shook her head. "No. There is still paperwork to finish before I sleep." Turning her head to watch the buildings they passed she shrugged slightly. "I am not tired yet", she confessed., turning her head back towards him. "I assume with your lack of energy at the moment you will be." Taking her glasses from the top of her head, she slid them back onto her nose as the gates of the manor grew closer.



N-: Alucard opened his eyes fully and sat up straight. "After I replenish myself I will rest for awhile.Hopefully Police Girl won't be a trouble until I awake." he smirked and shook his head as the car finally stopped. Getting out, he went to Integra's side and opened the door for her, shutting it when she got out. "When I am in a better state I will have to take you to the place I had hoped to later this evening.If you will permit such anyways." he phased away, reappearing in the kitchen much to the surprise of Walter who was making his way towards the door to greet Integra. Taking a large bin of blood and phasing away again, he would not be seen for the rest of the evening.



O-: For the next few hours until day break, Integra remained in her office, signing papers and discussing round table matters with Walter. Once the sun had began to shine through the curtains of her office, she slid her chair back and gave one single glance to her butler, who immediately stood from his own and walked to the door. Moments later Integra laid in her bed, pulling the covers over her cold shoulders as she watched the sun rise beneath the navy curtains in her own room. Lying with only her thoughts to concern her at that moment, she questioned herself, 'Another night out?', and slowly her eyes began to shut, leaving the heiress to dream until sunset.



N-: Alucard awoke a few hours after Integra went to bed, the sun high in the sky making him growl softly with hatred for it.Feeling much better he phased through the walls and into her room, only to see her sound asleep. Smiling faintly he left what he had wanted to give her on her nightstand beside her bed along with a small package he had kept for a great deal of time. The small box resting beside the fresh rose holding within it a ring. Golden band decorated with rubies and a signet in the center of a dragon, protected by the softest velvet. It would sit and wait for her to awaken as he left to go downstairs and check on the Police girl.



O-: Integra rose as the sky began to turn orange and pink, yawning loudly against the back of her hand as the other stretched out towards her night table. Hissing as she felt a sharp prick in her palm, she brought it back back and sat up quickly, turning her head towards the top of the furniture. Squinting her eyes she made out the form of a rose and small box, then reached out again to carefully pick up both. Studying the rose for a few seconds, she placed it back on the table, and then held the box as she open it. 'Did he...?', she questioned, lips pursing as she saw the ring inside. Immediately sitting the box down on the nightstand, she flung the sheets back and quickly slid out of bed, ready to dress quickly and address the reason behind the present.



N-: Alucard was down in the shooting range, tormenting the mercenaries and Police girl with his shooting ability. The targets blown away one by one as they became further and further away until at last the machine could not go any more. Each one a direct hit, he merely laughed at the look on Pip and Police girls face as he left. Going to the supply room to grab a cloth and some polish to clean his trusted and well loved guns upstairs.



O-: Integra walked onwards to her office after dressing, her stride fast. Walter kept his pace easily beside her, his face calm as the blond woman asked him to keep out all visitors and those of her manor from her office for a few hours. Stepping into the office, the doors were closed behind her as she approached her desk and sat down. Opening the box once more she lifted the ring out and held it between her fingers, studying the jewels and decorations around the band. 'Its beautiful...but why?', she asked, sliding it back into the box. Sitting it open facing her, she called out "Alucard" and closed the box before turning her chair towards the windows behind her.



N-: Alucard appeared within a matter of moments in the air behind her, A leg crossed over the other as he levitated a good 4 feet off the ground polishing Joshua. "You called for me?" he was cleaning the inside of the barrel and the magazine area with skilled hands, his gaze on the gun and not on his Master as he did so as now would not be a good time for it to be messed up. "I hope you slept as well as I." he seemed to be back to normal entirely.. meaning he could be his usual pest.If he wanted to be anyways, however now didn't seem the time as he noticed the box on her desk.



O-: Integra collected herself from her thoughts as she turned back around. "Yes", she replied simply and re-opened the box facing the vampire, hoping he would explain rather than her question. Her right brow quirked, the only thing to convey the confusion she felt about the gift.Leaning back in her chair she crossed her legs rested her arms on the arms of the chair, eyes watching his face for any emotions.



N-: Alucard put his gun back together first and put it into his coat once more. "That is the ring I wore during my reign centuries ago. A work of art for the time it was made in really." he straightened out and stopped levitating, touching the ground feet first. "I had it touched up so that the jewels were more secure and had it carefully cleaned by the finest of jewelers. It was one of my most loved possessions, and it means a great deal to me." he adjusted his glasses. "I was hoping that someday, if you ever feel like you wish to, you would wear it." he looked away and moved to look at a picture of her father on the wall.



O-: Integra turned the ring towards her again and glanced at it, feeling wrong for harboring any distaste of receiving such a gift. "Hmm...I wouldn't even know what finger...", she trailed off, picking up the box again as she turned her head to see Alucard at her father's picture. Unsure of what to say next, she took in a small breath. "You said there was somewhere else that you wanted to take me earlier. Where was it?"



N-: Alucard looked at her over his shoulder and nodded lightly. "In order for me to do so, it means you will be in close company with me for a deal of time. Think you could handle that Master?" he smiled as he turned around to face her once again. Walking towards her a moment later he would stop a foot or two away from her with a raised brow."I believe you will enjoy it greatly as not many get to experience such a place."



O-: Integra's eyes lowered as she grabbed the box and slid it into her pocket. "I've handled worse, Servant." Standing up, she dialed Walter to relay that she would be out of the manor for a few hours, leaving him in charge. Finally she turned to face the vampire fully. "Now, wherever this is, let's go", she directed, willing herself to force back any snaps she wanted to state in behalf of his judgment call on what she would 'enjoy'.



N-: Alucard's tall gauntly form reached down to sweep her legs from under her. Phasing out of the Manor, she would find that this time they weren't on the ground anymore. Instead flying through the air high above the rooftops with him firmly holding her to his chest.It would be only a matter of moments before Alucard would touch down on the roof of Big Ben, walking with ease up the normally slippery tilings until at last he leaped up and stood on the tip of the steeple.



O-: Integra clutched tightly to Alucard's jacket, but could not brush off the larger rushes of excitement she felt as she view the night lights of London from such a height. "Are we...?", she started to ask as she looked down beside to the bridge below them. "God and country!", she exclaimed, "A normal end to a date wouldn't have sufficed, Alucard?!" Glancing up to the vampire who held her in his arms, a smirk grew on her face. "King of the mountain", she said, laughing softly.



N-: Alucard blinked and looked down to her. "To be honest I don't quite know what to do at the end of a 'date'." he looked out over the city for a moment until her words graced his ears causing him to laugh. "Technically you are "Queen of the Mountain" since you are my Master." he smiled to her before speaking once more. "I remembered that the only time you have been in the air was with one of those Helicopters or planes. Most humans long to know what it's like to fly deep down, So perhaps I will be able to show you tonight."



O-: Integra lifted her chin when he corrected her. "Hmph." She nodded when he spoke of her prior experiences in the air. "I would like to know...as long as I do not become the nocturnal Icarus", she warned lightly. "How do you plan to show me such?", she asked as she gazed towards the city scape, finding it strange that she felt so much like a god at that moment, residing over a miniature civilization. 'I'm going to become a heretic at this rate.'



N-: Alucard chuckled and lowered his head. "I am going to let you go. I asked you earlier about trust and you said you have trusted me since the day we met." he turned a bit lowering her legs but hanging on to her by the waist, moving her arms so they were over his shoulders. "I am going to hang onto your hands Integra, and then only by one hand and step off of the steeple. If you trust me as you say, you'll relax." he watched her for a moment before finally doing as he said. Sliding his hands up to her shoulders, and then across her under arms to her elbows, then finally to her hands. She would be supported by his feet until he stepped away. "Are you ready?"



O-: Integra felt her breath hitch as he held her out by her hands only. Slowly she willed herself to remember that he wouldn't let her fall and began to feel her body settle. "Yes", she affirmed, locking her eyes on his face. 'I can't believe I'm letting him do this', she thought inwardly, baffled by the indulgences she had partaken with her vampire. She longed to brush her hair from her face as the winds brushed by, but knew right now, it was more important to concentrate on whatever he may have to say or do with her.



N-: Alucard finally let go of her one hand and took the step back. Then another until at last she was hovering there only by the contact they kept with his hand. "Now for the real experience." he would pull her forward gently so that she was off of the steeple completely with him....and let go. However instead of dropping she would find that she was still hovering. Smiling he would float a few feet away from her. "Will yourself forward to me Integra. You are wrapped in my energy, you won't fall."



O-: Integra's brow's dropped in a moment's confusion. "Will myself?", she questioned him. "Just how am I supposed to do that?" Rolling her eyes she pictured herself actually moving towards Alucard..and then felt herself actually moving forwards. As her eyes widened some, she raised her hand out to touch his jacket. "I truly hope no one below can see us...", she commented offhandedly, trying to get her mind off the incredulous act against nature that she was committing at that moment.



N-: Alucard shook his head and smiled. "I doubt anyone can at this height, we would be nothing more then specks in the sky from ground level." he moved away again, this time to the side and a bit farther away."We can go where ever you like, however until we get close to that destination we need to stay up high in order not to be seen. Once we reach the place we can simply go from the rooftop of a nearby building to the ground."



O-: Integra finally brushed the hair from her face to behind her ears and straightened her glasses against her nose. "How far?", she questioned him, thinking to herself "The Buckingham Gardens?", she shook her head. 'No, too much security.' Continuing to think, she held her hand out over the wind and let her fingers rise and fall against the breezes as they came by. "Do you know of any where that has flowers that bloom at night?", she asked, thinking that he would soon laugh at such a silly question.



N-: Alucard thought for a moment before finally nodding. "Actually I do. This way." he began to float off to the eastern end of town slowly, looking back at her."It's not as wonderful as the Buckingham Gardens, But I think it is a nice spot." he flew down towards a small house.Touching down softly on the roof as he looked up waiting for her to join him. "It's long since been abandoned by most, but it is a garden from older days." he leaped down off the roof with ease, watching her, wondering what she would do.



O-: Integra watched as he floated onwards, then closed her eyes and pictured doing the same, opening them as she felt herself do so. Once she was above the roof, she looked down at him, her hands on her sides. "How do I get down from here?", she asked as she bent down, slightly annoyed. 'Willing' herself to descend to the roof, she easily brought her toes down to the bend, but could not figure out what she should do next.



N-: Alucard smiled and closed his eyes for a moment. "Walk off the edge. There will be steps leading down made of shadows. That or you could always jump and I'll catch you." he chuckled and waited. once she decided on how she was going to get down, he would aid her accordingly and then lead the way through the back streets until they came to a large hedge, overgrown for years. "It seems this place has been long since forgotten." he would reach into the hedge and pull the bush back to reveal a garden with flowers that were fine without the touch of a gardener. An old alabaster fountain in the center turned off long ago and over grown by rose vines.



O-: Integra slid her foot forward and felt something solid beneath it. Step after step, she slowly descended until she reached the ground, then followed Alucard as he directed her towards the garden. "Regardless of how the manor is kept, sometimes flowers grow best where humans cannot disturb them." Moving past him as he pulled the foliage blocking them from the garden, she walked around the fountain, gazing at the wild botanicals surrounding her. "I smell something...but I cannot see it", she confessed.



N-: Alucard quirked his brow and walked forward through the long grass. "Look around. perhaps you will find it. I would help you but I don't know what it is you smell." he could smell everything very well, but what she was smelling she would have to find on her own. He smiled as he went over to the roses, kneeling down as he gently caressed a petal. "This is where I got your rose."



O-: Integra nodded once and continued to look around the garden until she saw the flowers that had left the gardens with the strong perfume. Leaning down she lifted the blooms up, only to notice that they were brown and mostly wilted. 'The third day...', she thought sadly, and stood up straight again. Turning around she wandered back to the vampire's side. "It is rare to see a rose bloom now", she pointed out. "Thank you for showing me this...as well as for the gifts earlier." Reaching into her pocket she felt the box still by her side and closed her eyes. 'Should I wear it?', she questioned herself and opened her eyes slowly, turning her attention to the vines beside her. "They're beautiful..."



N-: Alucard stood up again and looked to her. "You are welcome Integra, but will you think any less of me if I say something?" he sat on the edge of the fountain lightly watching her for a moment.Breeze picking up again playing with his hair lightly, making the black tendrils dance across his shoulders and back.He had remembered something from his past that his father once said to him.. and it felt so strange to of remembered it..especially with her.



O-: Integra directed her gaze towards him. "No", she replied, shaking her head. "I doubt what you want to say will cause me to do so. You don't seem in the mood to push my nerves tonight." Removing her hands from her pockets she sat down beside him, her fingers brushing over an partially opened bloom.



N-: Alucard thought for a moment, a soft yet sad smile touching his face. The few memories he had of his father coursing through his mind quickly as he thought about one of the only non-war oriented sayings he was ever told. "My father once said this to me, It is one of the only things he ever said to me that didn't have to do with war, killing and torment." he smiled again as he looked to her. "A flower will never be as beautiful as the lover it was given to." he reached down and plucked the most beautiful rose he could find to go along with the one he gave to her earlier. Holding it out to her gently."I suppose deep down under all the cold-heartedness, there was a heart in my father after all. As the rose he gave to my mother was framed and rested beside her bed until the end of their days together."



O-: Integra carefully reached out and took the rose from the count. Slowly she lifted it to her nose and took in it's dim perfume, the corners of her lips drawing upwards into a smile. "Alucard...", she started, laying the rose in her lap as she looked back up to meet his eyes. "You have continuously referred to me as the one you love. How is that possible when you must also call me Master?" Sliding her hand into her pocket, she pulled the box out and held it by her side.



N-: Alucard looked down at his lap for a moment in thought. "You have never ordered me to do anything that I truly had an issue with doing. Save for a few times when you ordered me to stand down, Such as when Maxwell insulted you. Though I also see why you did those few times despite my temper." he sighed softly. "Even though I am your servant, I have enjoyed serving you even when I have been a pest and angered you. You are worthy of my servitude, if you weren't I would have fought with you the day you came to the dungeon where I was sealed." he got up and turned away from her. "However, if you do not feel it is right to be in my company in such a manner genuinely, then I will humbly return to being nothing more." there was a sadness to his voice but he would say nothing of it. "After all, It is the Master's right to choose what it's servants are allowed to do."



O-: Integra sat the box in her lap beside the rose and raised her hand to her forehead. "Do not jump to conclusions", she instructed. "Do you think of me as nothing more than a foolish woman who jumps at love whenever given the chance? I accepted your proposal knowing full well what it could entail. This is not a concern of morals or estate affairs. I chose to do this because I did not disagree with your feelings." Lowering her hand she opened the box in her lap. "I am Master of your shell and use of power. But no man can command anothers heart."



N-: Alucard blinked for a moment and turned to look at her.There was nothing he could say to her, nothing that felt right anyways.When he saw the box open in her lap by the rose, a strange feeling came over him when her words replayed in his mind.-Perhaps I am more like my father then I thought..- he smiled softly and shook his head, looking up at the sky as though he was looking for the angel that had graced him with Integra's love.